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Praise Thursdays

Understanding Emotions And Eating Tacos! Praise Thursday!

This week’s devotionals come from Our Daily Bread.

Joe Rinehart’s pick for today’s devotional comes from Psalm 147: 1-11 and is titled God Understands. This story is of a young boy going through a difficult change; moving to a new home and going to a new school. The young boy in the devotional exclaims to his mother that he has “too many feelings” about everything that is changing around him. We may go through really big changes and feel too many emotions that may overwhelm us. But this devotion tells us that we don’t have to feel discouraged or alone in those feelings. God understands the feelings we feel.

Lexie Merritt’s pick for this Praise Thursday comes from Matthew 10:37-42. The devotional, titled Even A Taco, tells us about two college graduates looking for a way to serve in a ministry for the world. That ministry? Ending childhood hunger. They began selling tacos with a buy-one-give-one philosophy. For every taco sold, one meal would be given to meet the specific needs of malnourished children. Jesus tells us that our ministries help and give to the disadvantaged. He says a simple cup of cold water helps the disadvantaged. If a cold cup of water classifies as giving to the disadvantaged, then so does a taco, right?

The Afternoon Drive also gave away a $5 gift certificate to Everlasting Cup by asking this Trivia Question:

“What were the waterpots that contained the water which Jesus turned into wine normally used for?”

The Answer: Ceremonial Washing!

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Praise Thursday – The Main Actor & How to Find Peace

Today Todd and I were exited to dive into the second week of our new devotional – something that you have probably heard of…. Our Daily Bread!

Here is the devotional that I shared today: The Main Actor

Here is that devotional that Todd shared Today: How to Find Peace

Thanks for checking out the blog!

-Hannah and Todd

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Praise Thursday: The first Day of our New Series – Our Daily Bread

Today Todd and I had the great opportunity to get deep with in our new devotionals “Our Daily Bread”. This little booklet is something that gets updated every three months. It’s a collection of devotionals, all written by a few different authors.

Here is the devotional that I shared today: Blooming in the Desert

Here is the devotional that Todd shared today: Never Give Up Hope

Do you like romance movies, musicals, books – anything romantic really? Then we have the prefect valentines date for you! Click HERE to find out more!

Thanks for checking out our blog!!

-Hannah and Todd

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Praise Thursday: The two last “Devotionals For Leaders”!

Today Todd and I had a melancholily day, as we did the last two devotionals from “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman, but as we like to call it “Time with God for Leaders”.   

Here are the last two devotionals we did today: 

A father’s reward comes in many different ways

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.” – Psalms 37 4-5

God wants more than anything else to give you the desires of your heart. You belong to him, and his love is forever. When you choose to trust him, he calls you to live in such a way as to honor him and to do good to others so that they might see goodness through you. Your close fellowship with God is the key to a deep commitment to live for Him in every area of your life, in turn, wants to bless you. When you delight yourself in the Lord, he places in your heart his desires for you so that you might glorify him in all that you do.

True Prosperity is the receipt of God’s reward

“This book of the Law must not leave your mouth. Think about it day and night, so you may be careful to do all that is written in it. Then all will go well with you. You will receive many good things.” – Joshua 1:8

 When we do God’s Will and God’s way and with God’s help, no one or nothing stands in the way of our success. The key is the presence of the Lord. God commanded Joshua to meditate on his word day and night, and he’s asking us to do the same today. He wants every leader to be successful and prosperous and his work and with his family. Yet, He wants you to remember that your true treasure will accumulate in heaven. God’s word is your Guide to Life. When you discover his wisdom and apply it to your life, everything changes. Your focus, priorities, emotions, and heart become god-centered. When this occurs, you and your family will be so very blessed, and in whatever you choose to do, you will receive God’s we’re just reward of Peace, guidance Cana salvation, and an eternity spent with him.

We shared with you about the WNZR Valentines Banquet that is just around the corner! Click HERE if you want to know more!

Thanks for checking out the blog!

Hannah and Todd

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Unconditional Love is the Only Option & A Leader’s Stress Test

Today Todd and I got the spring semester off to a great start with Praise Thursdays!

Here are our devotionals from “Time with God for Fathers” by Jack Countryman for today:

Unconditional Love is the Only Option

“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” – Ephesians 5:28

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4 

The Lord speaks directly to husbands and fathers about the love and conduct that is so important to both roles. When you choose to love your wife as you love yourself, the consideration you give her will deeply affect your relationship. You, In turn, will receive the respect every man wants from his wife. Similarly, When you showed the same unconditional love for your children that the father extends to you, your children will learn to honor you. The atmosphere of unconditional love is contagious, and the security it builds within the home for your wife and your children will reap great rewards.

A Father’s Stress Test

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties”. – Psalms 139:23

There will be times in a father’s life when the stress of work, health, family, and friends will test your resolve. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can handle everything by yourself. You are not called to walk through this life alone. The Bible reminds you, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ” (Philippians 4:13). Allow Christ to strengthen you. Rest in his word, “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Seek the Lord, and let the holy spirit guide you in every stressful situation.

If you want to see more of what WNZR is up too, check our website! 

– Hannah and Todd
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Praise Thursday – It’s time to talk about Christmas!

Our new Devotional series:

Hidden Christmas By Timothy Keller

A LIGHT HAS DAWNED

Isaiah 9:2, 5-7:

Verses 2  “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.”

Verses 5-7: “Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.  For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

#1

One of the first indications of the Christmas season is LIGHT. The appearance of lights seemingly everywhere – on trees, with candles, above streets; there is radiance all around us.

Lights are not just for decoration, of course, they are symbolic.

In his book, Hidden Christmas, Pastor Timothy Keller says one of the most important spiritual truths at Christmas is this: the world is a dark place, and we will never find our way or see reality unless Jesus IS our light.

Keller writes that the word ‘darkness’ in the Bible refers to evil and ignorance. The world has evil and untold suffering. The world also has no one who can cure the evil and suffering. We look towards the earth and our human resources to try to fix the world. We think we can end darkness with intellect and innovation. That’s the ignorance.

So the message of Christmas is NOT, “we will be able to put together a world of unity and peace.” The message, instead, is a humble one: “Things really are this bad and we can’t heal or save ourselves. Nevertheless, THERE IS HOPE.”

Notice the verse in Isaiah doesn’t say the light comes from the world…it says that upon the world a light has dawned. It has come from the outside, and Jesus has brought that light to save us! Because, as John 8:12 says, He IS that light!

#2

Notice the verse in Isaiah doesn’t say the light comes from the world…it says that upon the world a light has dawned. The light has come from the outside, and Jesus has brought that light to save us! Because, as John 8:12 says, He IS that light!

So how can this divine light “dawn” upon us? Verses 6 and 7 answers with what Timothy Keller calls a stunning directness.

The light has come “for unto us a child is born.” This child is the “wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

If we embrace this, we understand the significance of its meaning – the creator of the universe is “born to us!” Jesus is fully God and fully human. There’s nothing like this claim in any of the other major religions of the world.

Think about this: it’s almost too limiting to say that we celebrate this at Christmas…yes, we do celebrate, but don’t we also have moments at Christmas where we stare dumbstruck and lose ourselves a bit in wonder, love, and praise?

The implication of God being born into our world, of choosing to become one of us, is overwhelming! Jesus is the divine light of the world, because he brings a new life to replace our spiritual deadness, shows us the truth to heal our spiritual blindness…and is the beautiful light that can help break our addictions to anything from money to power.

Keller writes, “the promises of Christmas cannot be discerned until you first admit that you can’t save yourself or even know yourself without the light of his unmerited grace in your life – it’s a foundational truth!”

We gave away two tickets to the MVNU performance of G. F. Handel’s Messiah on December 8th! Congrats to our friend from Mount Vernon who was caller number three and won those tickets! Click HERE to find out more about MVNUs performance of G. F. Handel’s Messiah.

Thanks for listening to The Afternoon Drive!

-Hannah and Todd

 

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A father’s prize and words of encouragement

Hugs and words of encouragement are building blocks for the family. 

Proverbs 16 23-24 – “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”

Hugs and words of encouragement are the building blocks your children need. Their self-image and confidence is dependent on how you interact with them. Make it a habit to hug them often and acknowledge whatever they achieve in school, sports, or the Arts. Your presence and open display affection to your children will help them develop the sense of security they need. Proverbs 23:22 asks your children to ” listen to your father who begot you.” Tender, loving words will open the ears of your children, and they eagerly look to You for wisdom and direction

A father’s prize is reflected in his children. 

1 Corinthians 9:24 – “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

God has given you a great prize in your children. How you nurture and influence them will shape the man or woman they become. Scripture encourages you to run the race of fatherhood in such a way that you not only received the price of salvation for yourself but that your children do, as well. Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” When your children receive the gift of Salvation and experienced a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you have been given the Greatest Prize a father could receive – to watch your children walk in the Lord. Let your own walk of Faith clearly reflect the love of God for all your children to see

 

Did you hear Tom Turkey run through our station? Well, both Linda from Utica and Beth from Mount Vernon did and were caller number 5! They were registered to win in The Totally Tasty Tom Turkey Hunt! If you want to know more about this click HERE! 

Our trivia question today was: Approximately, how many children are adopted each year in the United States? 

Answer: 120,000 children!

Congrats to Marian from Danville who got our trivia question and won that $5 gift card to Troyer’s of Apple Valley!

Thanks for checking out our blog!

-Hannah

Cultivating Character over Charisma and Choosing Words Carefully  

Here are today’s devotionals:

Cultivating Character over Charisma 

1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”

What would happen in your spiritual life if you spent as much time on your soul as you do grooming, exercising, or however else you maintain yourself? Let us be clear, those things are important, to an extent, but they will fade with time. Your spirit, however, will live forever. Your character is a road map to where you have been and where you are going. Let it point you to the throne of God for it will also serve as a guide to those who follow you.

Choose Carefully the Words you Speak 

Proverbs 18:21  (NIV)

“The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Have you ever considered how your words affect those who follow you? Your words have the power to destroy their confidence or build them up to be stronger than they are. Those whom you lead look to you for guidance, Love, and emotional support to cope with living in today’s world. Choose your words carefully. The impression you make will greatly impact your followers. People need to know they are loved by some here on earth as well as their heavenly father. Give the gift of encouragement every day.

Click HERE for a list of 100 verses about the power of words.

Do you want some Texas Road House for dinner tomorrow? Maybe you want to play some carnival games and have a chance to win some door prizes and have a chance to give to a great cause??? Well, then Flannel Fest is the event you want to be at tomorrow evening! If you want more information or want to register, click HERE. 

Thanks for checking out the blog!

-Hannah and Todd

 

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Praise Thursday: You are not the Lone Ranger and Let go of the past and live for today  

You are not the Lone Ranger  

Proverbs 22:17-19 –  Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;   apply your heart to what I teach,  for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord,   I teach you today, even you. In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you.

As leaders, sometimes it is so hard to accept that we don’t know everything, and the world does not rest solely on our shoulders. God openly invites us to listen to His word and open our hearts to His knowledge. It’s been a recurring theme in this devotional that God stands ready to give you counsel. Proverbs 4:10-13 says, “Hear, my son, and receive my sayings. And the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you down the right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life,” We all need the Lord, no one can do it alone.

Let go of the past and live for today 

Isaiah 43:18-19 – “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Bad memories belong in your garbage can. You can’t change them and stewing on them will only keep you stuck up in the past. God invites you to live for today and for every day in your future. When you have  Jesus in your heart, He promises “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2nd Corinthians 5:17). God does not care about what happened in the past. He also doesn’t really care about any material thing you can offer him. He wants your heart and he wants it gladdened and full of his love and mercy. Don’t weigh your heart down with trivial shame of the past.

Do you want to let your pastor know that you appreciate him or her? Click HERE to nominate your pastor for Clergy Appreciation Month!

 

Toby Mac’s oldest son, Truett, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 21 years old. A rep issued a statement saying that the cause of death has not yet been determined and said that Toby canceled his concerts in Canada and is traveling back to be with his family. The rep also asked that everyone be respectful of their privacy and allow them to grieve. We will share more information as it becomes available. Please keep Toby Mac and his family in your prayers.

Thanks for checking out the blog!

-Hannah and Todd

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